Follow Your Curiosity: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Creativity.

CPT #125: A Permission Slip for Perfectionists: Why I’m Letting Go (Overcoming Burnout)

If you’ve been feeling like you’re clawing your way up a cement wall by your fingernails just to get through your "to-do" list, this conversation is for you.

 

I recently realized I was my own worst client. In this Creative Pep Talk, I’m sharing the three-word message I saw on the back of a truck that stopped me in my tracks—and how it helped me save my creative spark.

 

If you are a perfectionist struggling with burnout or the pressure to over-function, this episode is a "permission slip" to listen to what your own resistance is trying to tell you.

 

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Every episode stands on its own.

 

If you're ready to stop pushing and start feeling human again, I invite you to join me for a free Creativity Circle.

TV Comedy vs. Novel Writing: Leslie Rasmussen on Finding Your Voice in the "Wild West" of Fiction

Have you ever felt like you need a "permission slip" to try a different creative path, even when you’re already "successful" in another? In this episode, I’m talking with award-winning screenwriter Leslie Rasmussen, who spent years in the high-pressure world of comedy writing for iconic television shows like Roseanne, The Drew Carey Show, and Sweet Valley High before pivoting to her true passion: writing novels.

If you are an exhausted perfectionist who feels stuck in a specific professional lane or fears that your creative spark has a deadline, Leslie’s journey from the TV writer's room to the "Wild West" of fiction will show you how to reclaim your own narrative. Most creative advice tells you to pick a lane and stay there or to follow a rigid corporate productivity system. But on this podcast, we believe in messy, joyful creativity for people who are tired of the pressure to perform. We focus on the life force of your work—not just the output.

 

Episode breakdown:

0:00 Transitioning from TV scripts to fiction
4:15 Growing up creative in Los Angeles
8:30 Breaking into Hollywood as an assistant
12:45 Challenges for women in comedy writing
17:20 The role of mentorship and networking
21:50 Working on ALF and Carol and Company
26:10 How actors help writers find their voice
31:45 The difference between sitcoms and animation
36:30 Outlining vs writing by the seat of your pants
41:15 Working with developmental editors
46:50 The reality of the TV writers room at 2 AM
51:20 From a nutrition business back to storytelling
56:45 The vulnerability of professional book reviews
59:10 Writing about family secrets and sisters
1:00:58 Final advice and closing thoughts

 

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT #124: Joy is the Antidote to Burnout

In this creative pep talk, I'm sharing a personal confession: I realized I was in the middle of nearly burning myself out because I forgot to let myself have enough fun. We live in a culture that wants us to prioritize working all the time and forget that joy is a necessity, not a luxury. I’m sharing the $0 Joy Gift—the tiny, simple things like a piece of classical music or a laugh over $10 aluminum foil—that can save your soul when you feel your creative spark is being drained dry.

Most burnout advice tells you to "just crush it" or optimize your schedule. But on this channel, we believe in messy, joyful creativity for people who are tired of the pressure to perform.

My Promise to You:

🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you that you have to "earn" your joy through high performance.

🤷🏻‍♂️ I won’t ask you to ignore your need for play to fit a rigid corporate system.

😁 I will never treat your need for a creative sanctuary as a failure of discipline.

What we’re exploring in this episode:

✨ The Irony of Burnout: Why it’s so easy to give advice and so hard to remember to take it.

🎶 The $0 Joy Gift: How tiny things—like a piece of music or a laugh over $10 aluminum foil—can save your soul.

🧠 The Aptitude Trap: Why being "analytical" can sometimes lead you down a rabbit hole of exhaustion.

💖 The "Importance" Reframe: A reminder that your creativity matters because you matter.

Sound good? If this resonates, subscribe to join our rebellion against the "shoulds" and the pressure to perform.

And if you want a safe space to explore this way of being with others, the door to our next free Creativity Circle is open. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!) We meet again on March 21.

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Leveling Up Your Passion Projects with Paul Pape

Paul Pape is a creative problem navigator, TEDx speaker, and author known as “Santa for Nerds.” Over the past 20 years, he has built a reputation as the specialty artist companies like Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon call when they need something that doesn’t exist or their internal teams can’t build. Working from his Nebraska studio, Paul creates custom collectibles, props, and prototypes with tight deadlines and exacting standards.

Paul is the creator of Gamify Business and author of The Creative Player’s Handbook to Business, which translates intimidating business concepts into gaming language that creative minds actually understand. Through his books, workshops, and coaching, he helps entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses without sacrificing their creative souls, proving that the “starving artist” stereotype is outdated and unnecessary.

Paul first appeared on Follow Your Curiosity in September 2024, and I invited him to come back to tell us about his new Gamify Business program. Paul talks with me about how he recognized the need for a more creative metaphor for entrepreneurship; the danger of losing touch with your passion as your creative business grows; how the focus on what’s NOT possible, plus the constant need to ask permission—even as a adults—can get in our way, and a whole lot more. If you’ve ever been intimidated by the idea of starting a business, especially as a creative, this episode is for you.

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction.

04:10 Using Dungeons and Dragons to explain creative business roles.

08:18 Leveling up business skills with gaming metaphors.

12:00 Business isn’t selling out; creatives deserve a livable wage.

16:05 Building the book through stories and personal experience.

20:13 Learning entrepreneurship by adapting methods to suit yourself.

24:10 Gatekeeping of business concepts and simplifying with new language.

28:47 Kids embrace entrepreneurship because they haven’t been told no.

32:27 Making a fool of yourself helps growth and confidence.

37:08 Confidence from passion attracts opportunities and like-minded people.

41:57 The tipping point: when passion becomes a draining job.

46:53 Failing is natural; our schooling overemphasizes perfection.

51:25 Coaching, permission, and feeling proud support creative entrepreneurship.

56:29 Rediscovering fun and permission helps creativity thrive.

 

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in entrepreneurship.

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT #123: Own Your Power

“I am here to help people get their power back. I don’t want people’s power.”

Whether you know it or not, you have immense creative and personal power. But in a society that often tries to take that power away—or tells you that you should give your power to a "guru"—it’s easy to feel invisible in your own life.

In this video, I explore why creativity is actually the fastest path back to yourself. While traditional tools in psychology and psychotherapy are valuable for understanding our past, messy and joyful creativity focuses on your aliveness in the present. This channel is a sanctuary for those who want to reclaim their agency without the pressure of productivity or performance.

My Promise to You:

• 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you that you are "broken" or need to be "optimized".

• 🤷🏻‍♂️ I won’t ask you to give your power to a "guru" or follow a rigid system.

• 😁 I will never prioritize a "crush it" mentality over your need for a safe haven.

 

What we’re exploring in this episode:

• The Power Illusion: Why "power-over" is usually an illusion and how to tap into "power-with" instead.

• The Political is Personal: Navigating a world where authoritarianism and "guru culture" try to claim your agency.

• Creativity as Self-Relationship: Why playing with colors or words is a radical act of reclaiming your own decisions.

• Reclaiming Your Aliveness: How to use your creative power to make a difference in your community.

Sound good? If this resonates, subscribe to join our rebellion against the "shoulds." And if you want a physical sanctuary to practice this way of being, join us for our next free Creativity Circle.

And if you want a safe space to explore this way of being with others, the door to our next free Creativity Circle is open. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

You can find my Substack Live conversation here.

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Why Your Creative Block Might Be a Closed Heart with Kelly Flanagan

Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a clinical psychologist whose writing and speaking have resulted in an appearance on the TODAY Show, as well as features in publications including Reader’s Digest  and Success Magazine. He’s no stranger to Follow Your Curiosity, having been on the show twice before to discuss his first book, Loveable, and his first novel, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell.

He chose to write his forthcoming non-fiction book with input from his online community, and the result is The Road Less Triggered: Turning Conflict into Connection with a Single Choice, which will be released on March 3.

Kelly talks with me about how he chose to include others in his process and how it influenced the book, why we keep hearing so much about regulating the nervous system, what it means to be open hearted (and how to tell if your heart is closing), and more.

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction.

04:41 Community input shaped the book’s content and direction.

09:35 Feedback engagement valued more than just positive or negative notes.

14:13 Embracing vulnerability and doubt as growth opportunities in writing.

19:22 Walking and voice recording spark creativity and problem-solving.

24:13 Conversation and real-life application deepened the book’s insights.

29:19 Open-heartedness means accepting reality fully, not being a doormat.

34:46 Noticing and reopening a closed heart is a daily practice.

39:46 Nervous system dysregulation is widespread and fueled by social media.

44:30 Catching body’s early warning signs helps stop defensive behavior.

49:59 We intuitively know open versus closed heart through bodily sensations.

54:38 Creativity requires reconnecting with body wisdom and staying open-hearted.

 

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT 122: You don't have to earn your own kindness

You don't have to earn your own kindness. This episode is a look at why radical self-compassion is the creative lifestyle shift your exhaustion has been asking for.

If you’ve been treating self care like a "treat" for good behavior rather than a necessity for your wellbeing, you aren't alone and you aren't broken. In this episode, I explore why radical kindness is a vital act of resistance for exhausted perfectionists struggling with the pressure to perform.

Most mental health and self-help advice tells you to "just crush it" or optimize your way out of burnout. But on this podcast, I provide a sanctuary for messy, joyful creativity that focuses on your aliveness, not your productivity.

My Promise to You:
• 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you that you need to be "productive" to deserve a break.
• 🤷🏻‍♂️ I won't ignore the systemic pressures that make self-compassion feel like a luxury.
• 😁 I will never treat your need for rest as a failure of discipline.

What we’re exploring today:
• The Reward Trap: Why we think we have to "earn" our own kindness.
• Creative Resilience: How practicing kindness as a life force changes your creative process.
• Finding Five Minutes: Small, gentle ways to improve your well-being without the pressure to be perfect.

Sound good? If this resonates, subscribe to join our rebellion against the "shoulds."

And if you want a safe space to explore this way of being with others, the door to our next free Creativity Circle is open. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

 

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Listen Again: The Transformative Power of Play with Tim J. Myers

Hi, everyone! I've been traveling, so I'm re-upping what's probably my favorite interview of all time (which is saying a LOT). It's a conversation I think a lot of us probably need right now. If you haven't heard it before, you're in for a treat. If you've heard it before, I promise it's worth a second listen. Either way, enjoy!

Original release date: January 31, 2024

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Tim Myers does a bit of everything: he’s a writer, songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and senior lecturer at Santa Clara University, where he teaches writing. We got together to talk about the nature of creativity, which Tim calls a “sacred mystery,” including everything from the way our childhood creativity is changed by the culture as we become adults, the necessary role of play in the creative process, the transcendent experiences of awe and wonder and how they fuel us, the wisdom of following your gut, and a whole lot more.

Episode breakdown:

01:39 Kids are instantly creative, often play traditionally.

06:50 Creativity influenced by nature, nurture, educators.

15:50 Importance of creativity in education and society.

21:22 Differences between play in childhood versus "professional" adults.

24:56 Nancy switched to teaching, advisor, and writing lit mag.

30:49 Encouraging exploration of language and creative thinking.

37:04 Parents see child, lifetime of giving love.

40:35 Zen story about finding wonder in life.

45:27 Believing in progress through challenging circumstances.

50:34 Art, festivals, play as a primal need.

56:21 Semantic split between "religion" and "spirituality."

01:01:14 Falling in love based on unique personal idiosyncrasies.

01:07:23 Experimenting with writing schedule structure.

01:13:45 Craft is in choosing words for impact.

01:19:22 Writers and feedback.

01:25:00 Tim struggles with generalist vs specialist identity.

01:26:31 Passion for storytelling and visual art emerges.

01:35:38 Weekly writing schedule reduces overthinking and focus on perfection.  

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how play influences your creative process.

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

CPT #121: Find Your Sanctuary

If you’ve been feeling demoralized by the 24-hour news cycle and the weight of the world, you aren't alone and you aren't broken. In this video, we explore why creating a safe haven for yourself isn’t about denial or being "unproductive"—it’s about reclaiming the aliveness you need to keep going.

Most advice tells you to "stay informed" until you're exhausted or "just crush it" despite the chaos. On this podcast, I provide a sanctuary for messy, joyful creativity for people who are tired of the pressure to perform when the world feels like it’s burning.

My Promise to You:

• 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you to force productivity through resistance.
• 🤷🏻‍♂️ I won’t ask you to ignore your intuition or reality to fit an ideal.
• 😁 I will never imply you are "broken" because you need a break.

What we’re exploring today:

• The News Cycle Cost: Why it’s okay to say "no" to the constant beating at your attention.
• Creativity as Survival: Why awe, wonder, and beauty are the things that make being here worthwhile.
• Finding Five Minutes: How to give yourself permission to pull back and reconnect with yourself.

Sound good? If so, subscribe so you don't miss our upcoming guidance on escaping the 'shoulds'!

And if you need a safe place to come and be with others right now, I invite you to join us for our next free Creativity Circle. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

 

Music, Determination, and Asking for Help with Segun Akinola

Segun Akinola is a British-Nigerian composer for film and television. He is most known for his music in the three series of Doctor Who starring the first female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. A BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2017, Segun’s other work includes scoring Sundance 2019 favorite and World Soundtrack Award nominee The Last Tree, Apple TV+ feature 9/11: Inside The President's War Room, and the BBC's landmark series Black and British: A Forgotten History. His recent projects include Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and the  BBC series Kingdom, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Segun talks with me about music as storytelling, the importance of determination and how we undervalue asking for help, the power of curiosity to drive learning, creative growth through collaboration, and a lot more.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:04 Discovering music as a child.

08:37 Transformers film sparked deep interest in movie music.

12:11 Access to YouTube helped him learn about modern composers.

16:39 More composers today due to online resources and courses.

20:19 Networking and persistence led to first professional composing gig.

24:07 Collaboration and peer learning valued as much as formal education.

28:04 Focuses on music as essential part of storytelling.

32:07 Creative growth comes from tackling difficult, unexpected musical challenges.

36:37 Film scores' emotional impact, balancing craft and artistry.

41:08 Fans and social media now deeply engage with film music.

45:27 Composing for Doctor Who brought excitement and creative freedom.

50:52 Always trying new styles, learning, and refining unique sound.

 

 

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in music and Doctor Who.

 

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.